Refrigerating apparatus



Feb. 8; 1938. 1 H. wlGGERs 2,107,317

REFR IGERATING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 22, 1933 a.. "L 'A' will',

Patented Feb. s, 193s UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE 13 Claims. (Cl. 62-'108.5)

My invention relates to refrigerating apparatus of the mechanical or gas type intended for household, domestic orl similar uses, in which freez-l ing trays for making ice cubes or freezing food products such as desserts and the like are supported onor housed within an evaporating or freezing chamber, andl has particular reference to a device'for imparting an initial upward movement to the tray to break the ice seal or .bond

existing between the freezing tray and its supporting structure.

It is a well recognized fact among those familiar with the operation of mechanical and gas refrigerators that during thefreezing process, a

i5 layer or coating of ice frequently'forms on the surface of the evaporator shelf or structure and on the surfaces of the tray, and that when it is attempted to remove the tray from the evaporator, this ice layer or coating forms a seal or bond which renders it extremely diicult to remove the tray. This condition is especially noticeable whenthe freezing trays are permitted to remain within the evaporator during relatively long periods and/or when the evaporator needs defrosti-ng to melt away the thick layer or coating of ice which has accumulated thereon. When such a condition exists', it is necessary to either exert a powerful upwardN and outward pressure on the exposed handle of the tray, which pressure, due to the relatively thin construction of the tray and handle, frequently results in the breaking'o of the handle or the bending of the tray, or to resort to the use of a knife, screw-driver or other similar tool, which tool is inserted between the tray and evaporator and is utilized to pry the trayupwardly or to otherwise break the adhering seal or bond existing between the tray and evaporator, this latter procedure being unsatisfactory and timeconsuming and frequently resulting in-irreparable 40 damage or injury to the tray or to the evaporator.

The condition above referred to has been recognized, and variousmechanical means have been associated with the tray or with the evaporator 55' evaporator which will impart an initial tilting or `lifting movementl to the tray to break the ice seal or bond existing between the tray and evaporator, which device is simple in construction, cheap and easy to manufacture, strong and durable, and highly eicient in the purpose for which designed. 5

It is a further object of my invention to provide a rotary cam member mounted on, or adapted to cooperate with, the ice cube tray or the evaporator, and so constructed that upon partial rotation, the cam member will directly and posi- 10 tively lift or force the tray from its adhering contact with the evaporator to permit ready removal of the tray when it is desired to obtain access to the contents thereof. The cam member may be permanently mounted on each tray or on 15` each evaporator shelf or, if desired, may consist of a separate tool 'member having a cam surface or surfaces which can be selectively brought into engagement with a portion of each tray, and which ony partial rotation, will impart the necessary initial tilting o`r lifting movement to break the seal or bond existing between each tray and the evaporator shelf. l

It is a still further object of my invention to provide a. novel ice cube tray having a vrotary cam member mounted on; or adapted to cooperate with, the base of the ice cube tray, and to so construct and position the cam member that its bottom surface normally lies flush with the bottom surface of the tray to permit lintimate contact between the tray and evaporator during freezing,

.and which cam,` upon partial rotation, will extend Figure 1 is a fragmentary front elevation of an o evaporator unit of conventional design, showing an ice cube tray in' which a preferred form of my invention is embodied, said tray being mounted in one of the freezing compartments of the evaporator unit. K

Fig. 2 is an inverted planl view oi.'v anice cube tray equipped with a preferred form of my ini-A proved tray lifting device,

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation, partlyV in section, of an ice cube trayequipped with a' preferred form of my improvedtray lifting device, showing the tray resting upon its supporting evaporator shelf,

Fig. 4 is a perspective, disassembled view of the 55 Fig'. 6 is an enlarged sectional view throughV the forward end of the tray and through a preferredform of my tray lifting device, showing the relation of parts whenthe lifting device has been. actuated to effect an initial lifting movement of the tray preparatory to the trays withdrawal e from the evaporator unit, and,

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 3 and showing the wall defining the top'of the depression inclined downwardly from the front of the depression toward the rear thereof to form an inclined cam surface, and

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 6 but showing a modified form of my invention in which the wall defining the top of the depression is inclined from the left side of the' depression downwardly toward the right side thereof to form an inclined cam surface which will cooperate with the inclined cam surface of the interposed'cam to produce a double cam lifting action. 4

Referring more specifically to thedrawing, wherein like reference characters have been employed to designate like parts throughout the severalviews, the numeral I designates an evaporator unit of a mechanical or gas refrigerator of any conventional'or preferred construction, which unit includes spaced shelves '2 defining a plurality cf separate freezing compartments 8, each adapted to receive and house an ice cube tray I, the bottom surface of which is in intimate contact with the supporting shelf to effect the desired freezing of the contents of the tray. To assist in the sliding insertion and withdrawal of the trays 4 into and out of the freezing compartments 9, each tray may, if desired, be provided with a handle 5 riveted or otherwise `secured to Ehe downwardly-extending fr'ont flange 8 of the The bottom surface of the preferred forrn` ofl my improved ice cube tray i'sprovided with a shallow depression 1 substantially semicircular in planland extending to the forward ed'ge of thetray at about the mid-portion thereof. The top wall of the depression 1 is perforated to receive ,therein a vertically extending stud 8, the upper end of'which is then hammered or otherwise headed to rigidly secure the studto the top wall of the depression. The stud 8 is provided intermediate its ends with an enlarged central portion 9 perforated at I8 to receive the inturned end` II of a coiled torsion spring I2 adapted to surround the enlarged portion 9 for a purpose to be hereinafter described. The stud 8 may terminate in a reduced threaded portion I8 adapted for threaded engagement by a nut Il, or, if desired, a'washer may be placed on the end ofthe stud 8, and said endpeened or rivetedv to retain the washer on the end of said stud.

The tray lifting cam of my present invention comprises a member I5 made of hard rubber, bakelite or other' material, this4 member being substantially circular in plan, perforated at its center, as at I8, and provided with a radiallyf When assembling the tray lifting mechanism on the stud 8, the coiled torsion spring I2 is placed around the enlarged portion 9 of the said stud and the inturned end II of. said spring is inserted within the perforation I0. 'I'he straight end 22 of the spring is then inserted within'the hole 2| in the flange I8 and the liftingcam I5 placed on the stud with the inclined flange I8 -extending upwardly. 'I'he nut I 4 then is screwed onto thethreaded portion I3 of the stud to' retain the several parts in assembled position, or, if desired, the end of the stud 8 may be left unthreaded and a washer placed over the said end, which end can be peened or riveted to rigidly retain said washer on the stud. When so assembled, the torsion spring I2 will exert its force ,to retain the operating handle I'I inra normal position adjacent the right side of the forward end wall of the tray, as viewed in Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawing, and when the handle is so positioned, the high portion 20 of the inclined ange I8 is disposed beyond the forward end wall of the tray and the bottom surface of the cam member I5 lies flush with the bottom surface of the tray and, hence, the tray can be filled4 and inserted within the freezing compartment 2 with the tray bottom resting throughout its length vin direct contact with the trayl-supporting shelf 2.

From the above explanation and descriptionl of the construction of my present invention, it will be obvious that when it is desired to remove the ice cube tray 4 from the-freezing compartment 3 of the evaporator unit, the operator grasps the handle portion I'I of the tray lifting device and moves said handle from its normal position at the right side of the tray toward a position at the left side thereof. The initial rotation of the member I5 will force the high portion y2li of the inclined flange I8 beneath the underside of the top Wall of the depression I and cause the member I5 to move downwardly on .the stud 8 'and into contact with the top surface of the underlying supporting shelf 2. Continued rotation of the member I5 toward the left will interpose-the high portion 20 of the inclined flange between the shelf 2 and the underside of the top wall of the depression 1 and, due to the inclined plane or wedge action occasioned by the flange I8, vthe ice cube tray will be lifted at its forward end as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3 of the accompanying drawing and the ice seal or bond which existed between the tray and shelf will be completely broken. Upon release of the handle I'I, the coiled torsion spring I2 will return the handle I1 to its normal position and the tray may then be readily removed from the compartment3 by grasping the handle 5 and pulling. the said tray outwardly of the evaporator unit.

While I have elected -to illustrate and describe my invention as applied directly to an ice cube tray, it is to be understood that the tray lifting mechanism herein shown and'descrlbed may, if desired, be mounted within a depression in the evaporator shelf located beneath the forward Aend of the 'ice cube tray with the cam portion extending downwardly and the operating handle exposed for manual manipulation.l It is to be further understood that the top wall of the depression in the tray or the bottom wall of the depression iny the evaporator shelf, instead of being plane as above described, may be provided with an inclined cam surface which WillA cooperate with the inclined cam surface 'of the interposed cam to produce a double cam lifting action. By way of illustration, I have shown in Figs. 7

and 8 of the accompanying drawing a slightly modified construction iny which the top wall 23 dening the. top of the depression is inclined downwardly from left to right and from front to rear, this inclination providing an inclined cam surface which will cooperate with the inclined cam surface of the interposed cam to produce the double cam lifting action. Further, instead of permanently securing thecam to the tray r` shelf, I may provide the depression in the tray or shelf with a centrally-positioned stud, and use v.depression a separate tool having a hook-shaped end the hooked portion of which is provided with an upper and/or lower cam surface, and by hooking such a tool around'the said stud and moving the tool in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction depending upon whether the hooked end is engaged at the left or right side of the stud, the said cam surface, will cooperate with the plane or inclined surface of the depression to force the tray away from the evaporator shelf. It is to be further understood that the forms of my invention herein shown and described are to be taken as preferred embodiments of the same and that various changes may be made in the shape, size and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the subjoined claims. A

Having thus described my invention, I claim: 1. A refrigerating apparatusy including an evaporating shelf, an ice cube tray removably sp- 'ported on said shelf, and means positioned in a depression between said shelf and tray to break the adheringice-seal or bond existing between said shelf and tray, said depression having an inclined cam surface, said means comprising a rotary cam within the depression and normally flush with the wallsdening said depression and having an inclined cam surface to coact with the inclined cam surface in the depression, and means to rotate the said cam to force the two inclined cam surfaces together Ato force the tray'out of contact with said shelf.

.2. A refrigerating apparatus including an evaporator shelf, an ice cube /tray removably supported on said shelf, and means between the shelf and tray to break the adhering ice-seal or bond existing therebetween, said means comprisvertical axis to cause the cam to force the' tray out of contact with said shelf.

3. A refrigerating apparatus including an evaporator shelf. anice cube tray removably supported on said shelf, and means positioned in a between said shelf and tray to break the adhering ice-seal or bond existing between said shelf and tray, said means comprising a horizontal,rotary lifting cam having an inclined cam surface, said cam being positioned within said depression and being normally flush with the walls defining said depression,v and means for rotating .said cam about a vertical axis to cause I the cam to extend outwardly beyond the walls defining the'depression to force the tray out of contact with said shelf. 1

4. A -refrigerating apparatus including an evaporator shelf, an ice' cube tray removably supported onV said shelf, and means positioned in a depression between said shelf and tray to break l the adhering ice-seal or bond existing between said shelf and tray, said means comprising a stud positioned vertically within the depression, a

about said vertical stud and having an inclined cam-surface, said cam being normally ush with the contacting surfaces of the shelf and tray. and means for rotating said cam about the vertical stud to force the tray out of contact with said shelf.

5. A refrigerating apparatus including an evaporator shelf, an ice cube tray removably supported on said shelf, and means positioned between the shelf and tray to break the adhering ice-seal or bond existing therebetween, saidmeans comprising a vertical stud, a horizontal, rotary cam mounted on the stud and having an inclined cam surface including a high portion, a spring horizontally-positioned cam mounted forlrotation acting on the cam member to normally retain 6. A refrigeratingapparatus including anH evaporating shelf, an ice cube tray removably supported on said shelf, and means positioned in a depression between-said lshelf and tray to break the adhering ice-seal or bond existing between said shelf and tray, said means comprising a verl tical stud mounted in the depression, a horizontal cam adapted for rotation around said stud and having a high portion, -a torsion spring having one end anchored to the stud and the other end anchored to the cam to normally retain the cam within the walls dening the depression with the high portion of the cam out of contact with the shelf or tray, and an operating handle forl rotating said cam around the stud in opposition to said torsion spring to force the high portion of the cam between the shelf and tray to force the tray out of contact with said shelf.

7. A container for use in a cooling device such as a refrigerator evaporator, and manually shiftable means pivoted on a vertical axis to the bottomof the container in position to engage a container supporting portion of an evaporator in which the tray may be mounted over a substantial area, said manually shiftable means'being adapted when shifted to apply a force between said container supporting portion and said con-l tainer in a direction to separate the bottom of the container from said portion whereby to break an ice bond therebetween. a

8. An ice cubev tray having av depression in the bottom twhereoitl extending to a side wall of the tray, a cam positioned in said depression with the bottom surface normally ilush'with the bottom surface of the tray and with the high por-l tion of the 'cam normally extending out of the depression and beyond the side -wall of the tray, and means for moving said camto cause the bottom surface of the cam to extend' below the bottom of the tray. v

9. An ice cube tray havinga depression in the' bottom thereof extending toa side wall of the tray, a rotary cam positioned in said depression with its bottom surfacenormally -ush with the bottom surface of the tray and with the high portion of the cam normally extending out of the depression and beyond the side wall of the tray, and an operating handle for the cam for rotating the same to force the`high portion of the cam into contact with the wall definingthe top of `the' depression to cause the bottom suru face of the cam to extendbelow the bottom the tray. I

10. An ice cube tray having a depression in the bottom thereofextending to a side wall of the tray, a downwardly-extending stud secured to the bottom of the tray and extending into said depression, a horizontal, rotary cam having an inclined cam surface mounted on said stud with Y the bottom surface of the cam normally ush with the bottom surface of the tray and with the high portion vof' the inclined cam surface normally extending out of the depression and beyond the side wall of the tray, a spring member for retaining said cam in its normal position;

and means for .rotating the cam around the stud in oppositionto said spring to force the high portion of the inclined cam surface into contact with the wall defining the top of the depression to cause the cam to move axially of the stud and to extend the bottom surface of the cam below the bottom of the tray.

l1. An ice cube tray having a depression in the bottom thereof extending to a side wall of the tray, a downwardly-extending stud secured to the bottom -of the trayand extending into said depression, a horizontal, rotary cam mounted on the stud and having an upstanding inclined marginal flange constituting a cam surface, the bottom surface of the cam being normally flush' with the bottom surface of the tray and the high portion of the inclined cam surface normally extending out of the depression and beyond the side wall of the tray, atorsion spring having one end anchored to the stud and its other end anchored to the cam to retain said cam` in its normal position, and a handle portionformed integrally with the cam and extending beyond the side wall of the tray for rotating the cam around the stud in opposition to the torsion spring to force the high portion of the inclined cam surface into contact with the wall defining the top of the depression to cause the cam to move axially of the stud to extend the bottom surface of the cam below the bottom of the tray.

12. A refrigerating apparatus including an evaporator shelf, an ice cube tray removably supported on said shelf, and means between the shelf and tray to break' the adhering ice seal 'or bond existing therebetween, said means comprising. an inclined cam surface positioned be- 13. An ice cube tray having a depression in the Y bottom thereof extending to 'a side wall of the tray, the top wall defining said depression being I inclined to form an inclined cam surface; a cam having an .inclined cam surface to cooperate with the inclined cam surface of the wall of the depression, said cam positionedin said depression with the bottom surface ofsaid cam normally .flush with -the bottom surface of the tray and with the high portion of the cam normally extending out of the-depression and-beyond the side y wall of the tray, and means for moving said cam to move the cooperating inclined cam surfaces into engagement to cause the botto'm surface of 35 the cam to extend `below the bottom of the tray.

HENRY 

